Just days after being named the 2006 Rolex Player of the Year and securing the Vare Trophy with her LPGA Tour-leading 69.2360 scoring average, Lorena Ochoa was back in her native Mexico to be honored as the country's Female Athlete of the Year.

Mexican President Vicente Fox presented Ochoa and baseball player Vinny Castilla with their respective awards at the presidential residence Los Pinos. The award is considered the highest honor bestowed by the Mexican government to its athletes; winners are selected by the National Sports Commission.

As the only player from Mexico on the LPGA Tour, Ochoa has won six tournaments this season and was one of 32 athletes nominated for the honor. She was also the 2001 amateur recipient of the award.